title: A modular rehabilitation system with enhanced functionality and safety to support improved recovery from injury and quality of life.
abstract: The rehabilitation of the range of individuals covering medical patients to elite athletes is a costly and time-consuming process involving the knowledge of experienced physical therapists, medical practitioners, coaches, and dedicated training facilities. In order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the rehabilitation process, a modular variable-resistance rehabilitation device has been developed. The mechanical, electromechanical, and software systems identified during this research have been shown to provide a step change in exercise functionality, real-time patient monitoring, performance feedback, and safety. Using distributed network concepts, the physical therapist will be able to design and implement training regimes remotely, which can subsequently be downloaded to the localized resistance devices. The patient and/or athlete is able to complete the required exercises without personal supervision. The data from these sessions can be saved and accessed for assessment at a convenient time, thereby maximizing therapist productivity and optimizing the utilization of medical resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*